For two decades (1989 to 2009) the renowned German jewellery firm VICTOR MAYER was authorised to create exquisite Fabergé jewels and objects of art under worldwide exclusive licence. As such, VICTOR MAYER continued the tradition of the Fabergé workmaster for twenty years. Since 2004 VICTOR MAYER’s sister company Mohr Time GmbH has been responsible for the FABERGÉ watch collection and the watch licence remains active to the present day.

 

In the second half of 2009 Fabergé ceased the practice of licensing the manufacturing and distribution of jewellery and objects of art and took direct control of the design, product development, manufacturing and distribution.

 

Today, and while it no longer holds a worldwide exclusive licence in respect of jewellery, VICTOR MAYER remains one of Fabergé’s valued and trusted suppliers of certain jewels.

 

VICTOR MAYER has a proud history. It was founded in 1890 by the designer and engraver Victor Mayer in Pforzheim, the German “City of Gold”. Victor Mayer also made jewellery and egg pendants in the Fabergé style around the year 1900. The pattern books for these designs are still preserved in the company’s archives today. From 1982, Fabergé Cie (the firm founded by Carl Fabergé’s sons in Paris) commissioned VICTOR MAYER to manufacture their collections (which were signed “FABERGÉ Paris”).

 

Victor Mayer represents an important perpetuating link in the Fabergé chain that was broken in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. VICTOR MAYER kept the old craft traditions going and the techniques deployed by VICTOR MAYER are those applied by Carl Fabergé’s artist craftsmen in the closing years of the 19th century. Exception (and rare) experts such as enamellers and guilloché engravers made it possible to maintain the traditions of Fabergé while simultaneously guaranteeing the incomparable quality of the creations.

 

In the 100th year of the firm’s existence, VICTOR MAYER earned the distinction of being appointed the sole authorised Fabergé workmaster in 1989 by way of the worldwide exclusive licence.

 

Accordingly, during that period, only VICTOR MAYER was permitted to create pieces stamped with the FABERGÉ hallmark. In addition the jewels bear the letters “VM”, indicating the responsibility of VICTOR MAYER in following the Fabergé workmaster’s tradition of signing their creations. Finally each piece was engraved with a unique number and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

 

VICTOR MAYER’s designs for Fabergé were executed in collaboration with the Archduke Dr. Géza von Habsburg, a Fabergé expert and art history adviser to the then Fabergé Co., New York. His advice and supervision made sure that the contemporary designs were commensurate with Carl Fabergé’s legacy. Replications were strictly avoided. As with the historical Imperial Easter Eggs, VICTOR MAYER also took inspiration from prevailing political and social developments.

 

During the course of two decades, VICTOR MAYER presented increasingly exciting, sophisticated and exquisite jewels, Objets d’Art, and egg objects. Prominent examples included the “Moon Phase Egg Clock” and the “Signature” and “Parapluie” jewellery collections. The egg pendants and egg objects were certainly among the best sellers.

 

A number of commissions and special editions were created by VICTOR MAYER. Examples include the “Brandenburg Gate Egg” object created with the German jeweller “Leicht”, and the “Royal Wedding Egg” produced together with the Royal Mint of England.

 

In 1996 Fabergé jewellery by VICTOR MAYER was shown together with historic works of Peter Carl Fabergé at the Metropolitan Museum, New York. The collection was the centre piece of the Russian Pavilion at “Expo 2000” in Hannover, Germany.

 

All of the creations designed and manufactured by VICTOR MAYER are kept in the archives of the company. Today, private collectors, connoisseurs and museums worldwide preserve the legacy of two decades of workmanship by VICTOR MAYER as Fabergé workmaster during that period. Due to their rarity, exquisite craftsmanship and sophistication, their value lies not only in the exceptional materials deployed, but also in the fact that they belong to their own era in the distinguished history of Fabergé.